Automobile rear window shield



Nov. 25, 1941. F. w. woHLFlL-:Ln 2,264,014

AUTOMOBILE REAR WINDOW SHIELD Filed Jan. 1o, 1941 2 smats-shety 1 Nov.25, 1941. F. w; woHLFn-:LD

AUTOMOBILE REAR WINDOW SHIELD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Filed Jan. 1o. 1941Patented- Nov. 25, 194i.

OFFICE ATOMOBHE WINDOW SHIELD Frederick W. Wohliield, Detroit, Mich.,assignor l to Houdaille-Hershey Mich., a corporation of Corporation,Detroit,

Michigan application January 1o, 1941, serial No. 373,887

2 claims. (ci. .29e-95) This invention relates to automobile windowshields and particularly to shields for the rear windows of cars havinga sloping roof. During snow storms or heavy rains, these rear windowsare quickly obscured so that it is impossible for the driver to seethrough them. The important object of the invention is therefore toprovide a simple shield or visor which may be quickly and easily appliedto the rear window oi' an automobile to function to prevent directprecipitation on the window but without obscuring full visibility rangetherethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shield or visor forthe purpose. described which can be readily formed integral from lightstock such as sheet metal and so shaped that it may be slipped at itsedges into service position between the window pane and the rubbersealing strip now commonly used for securing and sealing the panes ofrear windows.

A further object is to provide simple means for holdi'ig the shield orvisor` in service position against accidental 'displacement or unlawfulremoval thereof.

Another object is to provide simple means for breaking any vacuumwhichmight tend to form within the shield during travel of the car so thatsnow or rain will not be drawn into the shield to obscure thevisibility.

The various features of my invention are incorporated in the structuredisclosed on the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is perspective view of a portion of the rear end of a vvehiclebody showing my improved shield or visor applied to the rear window;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation 0i the shield before application thereof to-a window;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the window showing the manner ofspringing and applying the shield into service position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on plane IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on plane V-V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on plane VI-VI of Figure 5 showing one form oimeans for securing the shield against accidental displacement; and

Figure 'Z is a section like Figure 6 showing a modined holding means.

Figure 1 shows a portion of the rear end of an automobile body iii inwhich is the rear window W.. As best shown onl lFigure 4, the

window pane il is surrounded by and received .the side portions i6 frameI3 which is snugly seated in a depression l in the vehicle top.

The shield or visor V comprises a top wall por tion l5, side wallportions it and a front wall portion il. The lower edge portions of theside walls. it and the front wally il are deflected outwardly to formiianges i8 and i9 respectively for seating the shield against the windowpane and for extending into recess i2 of the sealing strip or frame itso as tohold the shield in service position.

The shield may be formed integral of suit== able material eithermetallic or non-metallic but.

range oi visibility through the pane, as clearly shown on Figure 4.

Figure 2 shows the shield after manufacture thereof and-beforeapplication to the window, being deflected a distance outwardly from theservice positions they will assume. To apply the shield, the ends arebent inwardly a distance as indicated by the dotted lines on Figure 3and the iiange i9 on the front wallY i'i is slipped into the recess i2of the front leg of the sealing frame i3, and then the iianges i8 on theside wall portions i6 of the shield are slipped into the recess i2 alongthe side legs oi' the seal frame, the outward spring eort ofV the sidewalls it then tending to hold the shield in place with its anges heldagainst the face `ton Of the pane by the rubber seal I3.-

Additional means may be provided for securely holding the shield inplace. .As shown on Figures 4 and 6, the shield flanges may be deiiectedto provide beads 20 which, after application of the shield to thewindow, will be surrounded by the rubber 'of the seal i3 andfrictionally gripped to increase the frictionai hold of the seal frameon the shield.4 The rounded beads shown will hold the shield in serviceposition and against accidental displacement but will permit removal oia damaged shield.

In the arrangement shown on Figure 7, detent gues 2| are extruded fromthe shield anges with the tongues extending outwardly so that pressureand friction of the at its edges in the recess i 2 of a rubber sealing55 they permit the shield anges to be readily inserted into the sealframe recesses, but after insertion of the flanges, the` rubber of theseal frame will move into detent engagement with the outer ends of thetongues and the shield will thus be more securely held against removalfrom the window and to frustrate attempts to unlawfully remove theshield.

When the shield is in service, its front wall I1 will function as agutter to receive water or snow flowing .down the vehicle top Hl andwill direct it toward the .sides of the window, while snow or rainstriking the inclined top l5 will flow down beyond the window so thatthe window is protected against direct precipitation of rain or snow. Inorder to prevent the formation of eddy currents or vacuum within theshield during travel of the vehicle which might tend to draw rain orsnow into the shield, vent openings 22 are provided. As best shown onFig-uren, such vent openings may be provided by extruding portions 23from the top wall I5 adjacent to the front wall I1. The extrudedportions 23 will then form upward continuations of the front wall I1 andshields for the vent openings 22- to prevent passage of snow or rainthrough these openings but to permit ilow of air therethrough into theshield to prevent the formation of vacuum or eddy currents so that thewindow pane will be kept free of snow or rain for full and clear visivbility therethrough.

Where the shield is of comparatively thin sheet metal, the rear edges ofthe top and side walls thereof m-ay be sharp, and the edge portions maytherefore be curled over, or, as shown, the edge portions may bereceived by a protective molding 24 of suitable metal, which moldingwill strengthen theedge portions and will also present an ornamental andfinished appearance.

I thus produce a. simple, economically manufactured -and efficientshieldor visor which can be readily and quickly slippedinto serviceposition on a window and which will function toprevent precipitation ofrain or snow on the window pane and keep it at all times clear for fullrange of visibility therethrough by the Adriver of the vehicle.

I have shown a practical embodiment of my invention but I do not desireto be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shownanddescribed as changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. A shield for the rear window in the sloping top of an automobilecomprising a front wall and side walls and a top wall supported by saidfront and side walls above the window to prevent direct precipitation ofrain or snow on the window, said front and side walls being adapted attheir edges to be secured against the window pane valong the top andsides thereof, said top wall adjacent to said front wall having a smallnumber of vent passageways of lust suilicient size to permit inow of airto prevent the formation of eddy currents or vacuum within the shieldwhen the vehicle is traveling, said top wall except for said ventpassageways being continuous and unbroken.

2. A shield or visor for the rubber-sashed rear window pane in thesloping top of an automobile, comprising a continuous unbroken top wallfor extending entirely over the window pane and a front wall and sidewalls for supporting said top wall, flanges formed in the edges of saidfront and side walls for insertion between the window pane and therubber sash along the top and sides thereof for frictionally holding theshield in service position, a comparatively small number of vent holesin said top wall at the junction thereof with said front wall, said ventholes being of Just suiiicient area for the inow off'air to prevent theformation of eddy currents or vacuum within the shield when the vehicleis traveling, and portions of said front wall overhanging said ventholes for preventing the precipitation of rain or snow therethrough.

FREDERICK W. WOHIFIELD.

